Once the summer capital of the British, Shimla enjoys a happy flow of holidayers who throng here to escape from the heat, pollution and traffic of the county.
Born out of a 12 km ridge, Shimla – the ‘Queen of Hills’ is one of the most sought after hill station that has banned traffic and prefers walking. Amid the awe inspiring mountains, lives the largely pedestrianised Mall. The route passes through the colonial building which have changed hands from British to Maharajahs.
Kalka Shimla Toy Train
The most sought after and mesmerizing part of Shimla is the iconic Shimla toy train. It passes through lush green mountains with scenic, misty views. Started in 1903, the toy train is a UNESCO site.
The Mall and the Ridge Road in Shimla
A great place to stroll around, the main street and shopping centre has a plethora of restaurants, banks, clubs, tourist information centers, and post offices. Nearby is the Gaiety Theatre, which looks like an old British theatre.
The Ridge Road running east to west alongside the Mall Road and connects at the "Scandal Point" on the west side. Here, one will find the Lakkar Bazar famous for wooden craft items and materials.
Jakhoo Hill
About 2 kilometers from Shimla, Jakhoo Hill, at 2455 m above sea level is the highest peak of Shimla. Apart from offering a bird eye view of the city, is also has the ancient Lord Hanuman temple.
Shimla State Museum
Inaugurated in 1974, the famous museum has more than 9000 objects on exhibition. One will find paintings and sculptures of Himachal Region and other states of India.
Summer Hill
About 5 kilometers from Shimla, it is a beautiful township and suburb on the Shimla-Kalka Railway line. Summer Hill was visited by Mahatma Gandhi, and here he lived in the elegant Georgian House of Raj Kumari Amrit Kaur.
Christ Church
The majestic-looking church on the Ridge, is second oldest church in North India. It has stained glass windows that represent Faith, Hope, Charity, Fortitude, Patience, and Humility.
Annandale
A favourite spot for cricket, picnics, golf and polo, Annandale is a plateau, developed as a playground in Shimla. At the altitude of about 1864 meters, it offers best views of the city and its surroundings.
Tara Devi Temple
Dedicated to Goddess Tara, this 250 year old temple was established by the Sen dynasty of West Bengal. The picturesque temple provides breathtaking and captivating views.
Wildflower Hall
A beautiful historic building and once the residence of Lord Kitchener, is a masterpeice of British architecture. Today it is a 5-star hotel of the Oberoi group built over an area of 22 acres, 2500 mtrs above the sea level.
Chadwick Falls
Just beyond the Summerhill Chadwick Falls, this beautiful waterfall cascades from a height of 67 meters. One must plan a visit in monsoons (September) when the entire area is in full bloom.
Shimla is always in a festive mood as they worship more than 2000 gods and goddesses during their festivals. This is the reason, Shimla fairs and festivals that are quite different from other places of the country.
Rohru Fair (April)
Celebrated in the 9th and 10th of the month of Baisakh. The fair receives huge crowds and during the jubilation, Natti dance is performed.
Bharara Fair (May)
Dedicated to Lord Koteshwar, this fair is organised on the 1st of May. On this day, goats are sacrificed to please the lord. Other attractions are Natti dance and Hindola rides.
Sipi Fair (May)
Sip Devta is worshipped in this festival and a goat is sacrificed before the deity. A number of magic shows, and cultural shows like Karyala take place.
Mahasu Jatar (May)
This two-day celebration takes place in Mahasu Village on the 3rd Tuesday of Baisakh. This village has a famous Durga temple, which was built by the Rana of Badoli. This festival also involves goat sacrifice as well as Natti dance.
Bhoj Fair (November)
People on this day jointly honor the gods Devta Bansor, Kilbaru and Parshu Ram. They also participate in the famous Natti dance.
Lavi Fair (November)
During this fair in Rampur district various items such as foodgrains, utensils, clothes, etc. are being sold. Natti dance is performed and many other cultural shows take place.
Shimla is not only a hill station, but it is equally popular for its shopping spots. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains, some of the best places to shop in Shimla are the Lakkar Bazaar, Lower Bazaar, The Mall, Himachal Emporium and Tibetan Market. Take the opportunity to upgrade your wardrobe or pick up some souvenirs.
The Mall
Woollen clothes, handicraft items, jewellery and old books.
Himachal Emporium:
Locally designed woollens, pottery items, jewellery, Kangra silks and Kinnauri shawls.
Tibetan Market:
Woollen clothes, Tibetan rugs and carpets, padded jackets, mufflers, scarves, sweaters, bags, boots, shoes and jewellery.
Lower Bazar: Wooden items, bangles, walking sticks, winter clothes, mobile phones and vegetables.
Minchy’s: Jams, preserves, squashes and fruit wines.
Lakkar Bazar: Woodcrafts, pashmina shawls, woollens, Sita Ram's aloo tikki and chole bhature.
Summer
(March – June): Weather is quite pleasant and perfect for outdoor activities. The temperature usually varies between 15°C and 30°C. Adventure lovers can opt for paragliding, trekking, camping and rafting. Summers are mild one might need light woolens, especially at night.
Monsoon
(July to September): Heavy rainfall might cause occasional landslides, hence it is not a very good time to visit the hills as travelleing can be difffcult.
Winter: (October to February): Popular season for people looking for snow, which typically falls between December and February. Time for skiing and ice skating . The average temperature goes down from 8°C to -2°C.
By Air:
Jubarhati is the nearest airport in Shimla, about 23 kilometres from the town. It receives regular flights from Chandigarh and Delhi. Taxi from the airport is easily available to go to Shimla.
By Rail:
Kalka is the nearest rail head, connected to Chandigarh and Delhi by regular trains. Shimla is connected to Kalka by a narrow gauge rail track. It is just 1 kilometre away from the centre of the town.
By Road:
State and private run buses can be boarded from bus stations of the various cities and towns around Shimla. One can easily choose from a range of deluxe buses, other air conditioned buses, JNNURM buses and ordinary buses.
